knight



O. S. HUNT & J. B. KNIGHT. APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING MARSH OR OTHER NATURAL GASES.

No. 77,982. Patented /Ia 19, 1868.

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c. s. HUN or. PARISH or TERREBONNE, AND JAcoB B. KnIcH 'oF NEwoRanAns, Assrcnons To 0. s. HUNT, AND WILLI M F. PRATT, AND PETER M. PETERSON, on NEW ORLEANS, LouIsIAu Maureen: No. (7,982, dated May 19, 18 68.

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TOfALLWHQM IT MAY CONCERN:

Ben known that we, G. S. HUNT,. of the parish of Terrebonne, in the State of Louisiana, and JACOB B. KNIGHT, of the city of New Orleans, and some State, have invented a certain new, useful, and improved Apparatus for Eliminating, Collecting, Conducting, Continuing the Flow of and Garburetting Marsh-Gas, (hydride of methyle,) or any other gas of natural or spontaneous production below the surface of .the earth, to the end of ntilizing'the same by applying it to illuminating and heating purposes.

'It is' well known that, underlying the-surface of the alluvial deposits in the State of Iiouisiana, and other localities of similar geological characteristics, at varying depths below the surface, a gas-bearingstratum exists, that is generally understood to be of vegetable origin and composition, which produces marsh-gas in large quaintity, in the process of some continuous geological or chemical transformation.

Hitherto this gas has not been applied to any practical use, but is now known tobe inflammable. The difiiculty. thathas prevented its use has beenthe filling up of the lower or receiving-end of the conduit-pipe with mud oi other earthy matter that is set in motion andintroduced into the said pipe by the flow'of the gas, or of water, and which thus consequently stops the flow of the gas. This gas burns readily, and gives out great heat in its natural state, but its nature is such that it requires an addition of carbon, or its equivalent, to develops,

in its combustion, a high degree of illuminating power.

Our invention is intended toremedy the difliculties to which we have adverted, and to supply the needed carbon, and it consists of an apparatus, which will be at once clearlyunderstood by referring to the drawing.

Upon the drawing, A represents a chamber, provided with a closed top and bottom, a and b, and a vertical enclosing-wall of wire gauze, that is sustained by an interior skeleton framework, usshown.

The chamber A,-as represented, is cylindrical, and this being the, strongest, is, for that reason, the best form, but, obviously, it may be of any form that experience may show tobe necessary,

From the top of the chamber A, at any point therein, rises the gas-pipe C, bent, as shown at c, in order that a constant supply of gasoline, oil of turpentine, or other hydrocarbon liquid may be kept in it, to carburct the gas, and thus vincrease its illuminating properties. The flexure in the pipe may be anywhere between the chamber A and the point at which the gas is applied to use. If found desirable, charcoal, in a finely-broken or divided condition, may also be put into pipe 0.

Whenever there is a flow of water with the gas, in quantity suflicient to bring it into the pipe C, no flex urc or crook in the same is necessary, because the c'arburetting-agent, having less specific gravity than water, will float-upon the latter, and he thus kept in the pipe. I

In Jllie use of a straight pipe, charcoal may also be used in connection with a carburetting-liquid, that is supported upon water, by enclosing it in an elongated wire-gauze bag,.andsuspending it in the liquid, or by introducing a perforated diaphragm in the pipe, at or near the surface of the water, on which the charcoal may rest and be supported, although put in the pipe in loose form. I

Above the surface of the ground, the pipe C may connect with a gasometer or reservoir, to receiveand I distribute the gas, or it may lead directly into pipes that will conduct it tothe point or points at which it is to be applied to heating or lighting uses, without the interposi tion' of a gasometer or other reservoir or receptacle; Through'the centre of the top of thechamber A,- and extending to the bottom thereof, is the pump D, (which may be provided with any suitable valves and operating appliances,) at the bottom or lower extremity of which is an enlarged perforated foot, d, as shown. I

The chamber A may be of 'any-si'ze,.its'capacity for collecting the gas being, of course, in precise proper tions to its dimensions, but when very large it might become necessary to reinforce the skeletonframework upon which the wire-gauze wall or walls is supported, as well as its top, by a system of internal beams and braces, which any mechanic will readily adjust.

I If the chamber'A be of considerable size, an excavation is necessary, in order to place it in positionin the of the gas, substantially as herein described, for tlie purposes set forth.

gas-producing stratum, and, in refilling such excavation, care must be taken to put in brush around the chamber, or the same substance that 'waswithd rawn, or soinethingelse that will not be impet-viol stothe gas, and so prevent its flow into the chamber. 4 r

If the chamber is very small, and desiged for some-restricted local use, as, for examlplera street-lamp, or a single house, or the like, it may be forced or driven into its subterranean position without any excavation being made to get it down. But,'in such case, it would be requisite to provide a sharp penetrating point at its lower extremity, and, probably, to introduce the pump through the gas-pipe, the latter being sufiiciently larger than the former to allow of thefree aseentof thegas between them.

The chamber A being sunk into the gas producing stratum, and covered in, the operation orreilect is as follows, to wit The gas flows into it from every direction, the wire-gauze wall interposing no obstruction to its rapid admission, whilst it effectually prevents the intrusion of solid substances, except in minute and impalpabl'e form, and thence through the pipe 0, and thecnrburetting-agent that hasbeen placed therein, to, the gasometer or point at which it is to be applied to use. 'The' pump D will free the chamber of earthy matter, whenever necessary, even although it enter the same in dry form, beeause,-in that case, water maybe poured into the chamber through the pump or gas-pipe, for the purpose of'bringing this matter within the power of the pump, by the saturation and softening of' the same; or, it need be, the water, when it is'present, may be entirely withdrawn with such earthy matter, by the pump. and the whole space within the chamber 'bo thus left or secured for holding the gas. l v

Our invention, although designed especially for'nse in connection with marsh-gamma nevertheless, used for collectingand bringing continuously tothe' surface of the earth any natural gas that will burn, andis thus susceptible of application to the uses of man, whatever may be its name or character. or the locality in which it is found.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent,.is-

1. The chamber A, or its equivalent, in combination with a gas-pipe, one a pump, D, when these several parts are constructed substantially as and for the purpose set forth..

2. The chamber A, or its equivalent, in combination with a pump, D, and a gas-pipegG, when the'latter is partially filled with a hydrocarbon liquid or other ogent, for carburretting or increasing the illuminating power 0. s. HUNT, J. armour.

Witnesses:

Rurus R. Rnonns LYMAN HARDING. 

